What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a natural meditative or day-dream-like state. Importantly, it is a conscious state of relaxation and focused attention that exists between being wide awake and being asleep. Hypnosis is a completely natural state and we go into hypnosis many times every day.
For example:
- when your attention has wandered from what you are doing and you suddenly realise you’re daydreaming
- when you become totally absorbed listening to music or completely lost in your thoughts
- when you’re driving and you and arrive at your destination without really remembering the journey
During hypnosis, you may feel extremely relaxed and even sleepy, but you are in fact, in a state of hyper awareness, where your attention and concentration are increased and you are much more open to positive suggestions.
What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy makes use of the heightened state of awareness that occurs during hypnosis to help you understand yourself better so that you can make positive changes to the way you think, feel and behave.
By gaining a better understanding of any beliefs and thought patterns that are stopping you from living the life you want to live, you will be able to make suggestions to your sub-conscious mind to help you make changes.
By changing the things in your life that aren’t working, for you, it will leave you free to make different choices so that you can live a healthier, happier life.
How does hypnotherapy work?
I will guide you into a deepened state of relaxation where your conscious mind is distracted so that we can work directly with your sub-conscious mind (the part which manages your thoughts and feelings which in turn influence how you react and behave).
During hypnosis, your sub-conscious mind is more open to suggestions and more receptive to new ways of thinking and behaving.
My approach combines traditional suggestion and visualization techniques with a range of NLP techniques. This dynamic therapy is adaptable to each individual situation and gives lasting results.
How can hypnotherapy help?
Hypnotherapy can be used to deal with a wide range of issues including:
- Emotional issues such as stress, anxiety, lack of confidence, low self-esteem, worrying/over-thinking
- Physical health problems and pain
- Habits and behaviours eg. smoking, food related, nail-biting
- Phobias and fears
- Insomnia and sleep issues
Can the hypnotherapist control my mind?
Hypnosis is a waking state, so you will always remain fully aware and in control of what you say and do. You will hear what the hypnotherapist is saying to you and you will remember what happens in the session after it has finished.
You can always choose what you say, what you listen to and what you do so the therapist cannot make you (or your sub-conscious mind) do or say anything you don’t want to. Most importantly, the therapist is only a facilitator; they will guide you, support you and encourage you. They will give you lots of opportunities to explore, to understand and to change, but the only person who can make the changes is you.
Remember, you will not go to sleep and you are always in control, but you may feel tired or extremely relaxed at the end of a session.
Dispelling the myths
Hypnotherapy is NOT like the shows you may have seen on TV.
- You are always in control
- You cannot be made to do or say anything you don’t want to
- You will not be unconscious or asleep, just deeply relaxed
- You can open your eyes at any point and bring yourself out of hypnosis
- You will hear and remember everything your therapist says
- You will be fully aware of your surroundings
- You will feel relaxed and calm much like during a guided meditation .
How safe is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is safe, effective, and works very quickly compared to other types of therapy. I am a fully qualified hypnotherapist and completed 12 months of training with over 450 hours of study and practice to achieve my qualification. To provide further reassurance, I am a registered practitioner with the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR) and the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) who ensure that their registered practitioners are professionally trained and fully insured to practise. My training is also accredited by the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC) which means that it complies with relevant National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Hypnotherapy as set down by Skills for Health. This means that you are in safe hands if you choose to have hypnotherapy with me.
For more information, please see the links below:
Is hypnotherapy the right choice for me?
Hypnosis is a willing state which means you can only go into hypnosis if you want to. Similarly, if you are sceptical about hypnotherapy or if you don’t believe it will work, then it is less likely to be effective and my not be the right choice for you. However, if you are willing, motivated and open to making changes using hypnotherapy, you are already well on the way to success.
Is there anyone who can't have hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is safe for most people. However, it is not suitable if you have a serious mental health condition such as psychosis or certain types of personality disorder. Your GP will be able to advise you.
Where are you located?
I live in a small village about 4 miles from Uttoxeter and about 10 miles from Ashbourne. If you are unable to come to me, then you can have hypnotherapy online using Zoom; it works just as well as face-to-face therapy and allows us to work together where ever you are in the country.